63-659: The Fridge was a nightclub in the Brixton area of South London, England , founded, in 1981, by Andrew Czezowski and Susan Carrington, who had run the Roxy during punk music 's heyday in 1977. The Fridge closed on 17 March 2010 and has no link with Electric Brixton which opened in September 2011 and now occupies the building. The Fridge started in 1981, in a small club at 390 Brixton Rd, and later, in 1982, above Iceland in Brixton Road with
126-415: A 20-storey tower block providing office space were unveiled by Taylor McWilliams - a Texan property developer whose company Hondo Enterprises had bought Brixton Market in 2018. This plan drew a large opposition from the local community and campaign groups, already concerned with the threat of eviction of a popular local supermarket. Despite a petition and overwhelming opposition, council planners approved
189-481: A campaign poster leading up to the 1992 election "What does the Conservative Party offer a working class kid from Brixton? They made him Prime Minister." The 1995 riots were sparked by the death of a black man, Wayne Douglas, in police custody and occurred in an atmosphere of discontent about the gentrification of Brixton. In April 1999, Brixton Market was the site of the first of three attacks known as
252-523: A design motif inspired by Coldharbour Lane 's Southwyck House (or "Barrier Block"). In 2015, to celebrate the Brixton pound's fifth anniversary, the Turner Prize -winning artist Jeremy Deller was commissioned to design a limited-edition B£5 note. It was described as "psychedelic and political", with the front featuring bright colors and the back with a quotation from Karl Marx ’s Das Kapital ("Capital
315-457: A major shopping centre. The first purpose-built department store , Bon Marché (Brixton) , was opened on Brixton Road in 1877 and Electric Avenue was one of the first shopping arcades to have electric lighting. The now famous Brixton Market began in Atlantic Road and was moved to Station Road in the 1920s to ease traffic congestion. In 1881 the population of Brixton was 62,837, now home to
378-543: A number of murders around the estate. The Loughborough Estate is home to more than 3,000 families and a mix of 1940s low-rise buildings and 1960s/1970s tower blocks and houses. Problems of urban decay have been reported around Loughborough Junction , the catchment area for Loughborough Estate, the Angell Town Estate and the Moorlands Estate. Brixton still features some grand Victorian housing . Brixton Market
441-481: A number of popular record shops. Desmond's Hip City on Atlantic Road existed from the 1970s until its closure in 1989. A record by the band Skydiggers ; Desmond's Hip City is named after the shop. In 2018, filmmaker Molly Dineen made a film about the owner of Blacker Dread Muzik Store called Being Blacker . Brixton's current record shops include Supertone Records (opened in 1983) selling soundsystem reggae and Container Records which sells dance music. Brixton
504-495: A predominantly African-Caribbean community . The Metropolitan Police began Operation Swamp 81 at the beginning of April, aimed at reducing street crime , largely through the repeated use of the so-called sus law , which allowed police officers to stop and search any individual on the grounds of mere "suspicion" of possible wrongdoing. Plain clothes police officers were dispatched into Brixton, and within five days almost 1,000 people were stopped and searched under this law. There
567-547: A process of suburban development. The largest single development, and one of the last in suburban character, was Angell Town, laid out in the 1850s on the east side of Brixton Road , and so named after a family that owned land in Lambeth from the late 17th century until well into the 20th. As bridges were built across the Thames in the early 19th century those working in the City of London and
630-484: A quarter of the parish of Lambeth. A prominent building on Brixton High Street (at 472–488 Brixton Road) is Morleys, an independent department store established in the 1880s. In 1888, Electric Avenue was so named after it became the first street in London to be lit by electricity . In this time, large expensive houses were constructed along the main roads in Brixton, which were converted into flats and boarding houses at
693-425: A radical decor that included beat-up ice boxes and artificial dead cats hanging from its ceiling. Early guest DJs included Keith Barker-Main, later a lifestyle journalist and social commentator. It claims to have been the first British club to have such innovations as video screens and a chill out lounge. The Fridge was at the heart of the early 80s New Romantic movement, and booked such acts as Eurythmics and
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#1732876762590756-465: A residency from Soul II Soul , Escape From Samsara, and Return To The Source. The Fridge Bar, located next-door to The Fridge, was typically used to host an afterparty on Saturday mornings, with DJs playing music to the small basement dancefloor. A hand-stamp allowed paying punters to come and go freely, some choosing to spend part of the morning in the Peace Gardens park situated immediately opposite
819-550: A result of its increased popularity, the owners of the club signed a lease on a converted 1913 cinema (The Palladium Picture House) formerly a roller-disco called the ACE on the Town Hall Parade. After renovating the building, the new Fridge club opened on 7 June 1985. Joe Strummer from The Clash invested £5,000 in the new club. Andrew explains during an interview for 3:AM magazine, "what the club achieved since then -- its visuals laid
882-474: A sell-out concert at the Fridge on 27 March 1987, at which Czezowski had a huge white staircase built on the stage for the band to perform on. The show was filmed for Japanese television. Since then it has hosted a variety of club nights most notably Soul II Soul (1988 - 1993) Daisy Chain (1987-1990) and Escape From Samsara (1995-2005). Launched in September 1992 by Czezowski and Carrington, Love Muscle became one of
945-647: A severe housing crisis, which in turn led to urban decay . This was followed by slum clearances and the building of council housing . In the 1940s and 1950s, many immigrants, particularly from the West Indies and Ireland, settled in Brixton. The first wave of immigrants (492 individuals) who formed the British African-Caribbean community arrived in 1948 at Tilbury Docks on the HMT Empire Windrush from Jamaica and were temporarily housed in
1008-428: A significant clubbing and live music scene. Large venues include Brixton Academy and Electric Brixton . A range of smaller venues such as The Windmill , Jamm, and Phonox are a major part of London's live music scene. The Brixton Splash is an annual one-day street party held since 2006. The event is community run, showcasing local talent and celebrating the cultural diversity and history of Brixton. Brixton has had
1071-541: Is a British DJ and music producer . He is the founder of music collective Soul II Soul . Jazzie was born in London UK to parents of Antiguan descent in Hornsey , London, the ninth of 10 children, several of whom began running sound systems in the 1960s and 1970s. At the age of 18, Jazzie was working for cockney pop skiffle legend Tommy Steele , as a tape operator. He had his first gig in 1977 working with friends under
1134-539: Is also home to a 1970s purpose-built skatepark , named Stockwell Skatepark , its own Dominoes team, the Brixton Immortals started by the community's Windrush Generation and bicycle co-operative Brixton Cycles . Brixton is served by two local news blogs - Brixton Blog running since 2010 which also prints a monthly newspaper, and Brixton Buzz formed in 2011 Jazzie B Trevor Beresford Romeo OBE (born 26 January 1963), better known as Jazzie B ,
1197-483: Is bordered by Stockwell , Clapham , Streatham , Camberwell , Tulse Hill , Balham and Herne Hill . The district houses the main offices of Lambeth London Borough Council . Brixton is 2.7 mi (4.3 km) south-southeast from the geographical centre of London (measuring to a point near Brixton Underground station on the Victoria line ). The name Brixton is thought to originate from Brixistane , meaning
1260-561: Is gentrifying the area in a similar way to that in nearby Clapham . Pop Brixton exemplifies the ongoing discussion about regeneration. Originally created as a community project , opinion is divided over whether Pop fulfils its intentions of being part of the local community, with some arguing that Pop is seen as just another tourist and retail attraction, and that the council did not meaningfully engage with Brixton residents. Others have welcomed its arrival for its entrepreneurial approach and benefiting start-ups , and that it brings people into
1323-603: Is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London . Brixton experienced a rapid rise in population during the 19th century as communications with central London improved. Brixton is mainly residential, though includes Brixton Market and a substantial retail sector. It is a multi-ethnic community, with a large percentage of its population of Afro-Caribbean descent. It lies within Inner London and
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#17328767625901386-788: Is money, capital is commodities...By virtue of it being value, it has acquired the occult ability to add value to itself. It brings forth living offspring, or, at the least, lays golden eggs.") Other towns and cities in the UK that have used their own currency include the city of Bristol , Totnes in Devon, Stroud in Gloucestershire and Lewes in Sussex. Brixton is home to several particularly large housing estates : Stockwell Park Estate off Stockwell and Brixton Roads respectively; Myatt's Fields South and North off Vassall Road; Angell Town off Brixton Road on
1449-413: Is open every day, selling a range of African-Caribbean products and reflects other communities in the local area with Indian and Vietnamese supermarkets and South American butchers amongst the shops and stalls. . London Farmers' Markets opened a farmers market on Brixton Station Road in September 2009. It is open every Sunday from 9.30am to 2pm. After the riots in 1981 a series of murals were funded by
1512-491: Is the main shopping area, fusing into Brixton Market . On the western boundary of Brixton with Clapham stands the Sunlight Laundry, an Art Deco factory building. Designed by architect F.E. Simpkins and erected in 1937, this is one of the few Art Deco buildings that is still owned by the firm that commissioned it and is still used for its original purpose. The Brixton area was bombed during World War II , contributing to
1575-451: The Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 and the creation of an independent Police Complaints Authority in 1985. The 1999 Macpherson Report, an investigation into the murder of Stephen Lawrence , found that recommendations of the 1981 Scarman report had been ignored and concluded that the police force was " institutionally racist ". John Major 's childhood roots in the area were used in
1638-681: The London nail bombings . The other two, which followed within a fortnight, were in Brick Lane , the heart of East London's Bangladeshi community, and the Admiral Duncan pub in Soho , frequented predominantly by the gay community. In the Brixton attack, 48 people were injured. The bomber was caught after the third attack; the BBC reported that he intended to ignite a race war across Britain with his bombing campaign. He
1701-509: The Pet Shop Boys before they were well known and drew famous faces such as Boy George , Frankie Goes to Hollywood , Magenta Devine , as well as Marc Almond and Grace Jones , who also performed there. Although all the nights at The Fridge welcomed anyone, the Friday nights were aimed primarily at the straight community in contrast to Love Muscle which was promoted as a gay night. In 1984, as
1764-616: The Rastafari name Jah Rico. He changed their working name to Soul II Soul in 1982. Soul II Soul was originally an umbrella name for several of his projects - the sound system , a clothing line and Camden record shop, a record imprint, as well as the group itself. From 1985 to 1989, Jazzie and Soul II Soul would hold what would be regarded as a legendary night at the Africa Centre in Covent Garden . The Soul II Soul track "Fairplay"
1827-670: The West End moved to south London. The first development was in Washway, now Brixton Road. With the enclosing of the Manor of Lambeth, owned by the Archbishop of Canterbury , in 1806 and the opening of Vauxhall Bridge in 1816, terraced houses and detached villas started to line the main roads. The Rush Common enclosure stipulations dictated that houses had to be set back from the main roads, allowing for generous gardens. St Matthew's Church on part of
1890-479: The "Back 2 Life" radio show on BBC London 94.9 , which he then brought to Mi-Soul since 2014. Jazzie has produced and remixed tracks for the likes of Incognito , Maxi Priest , James Brown , Kym Mazelle , Cheryl Lynn , Teena Marie , Johnny Gill , Ziggy Marley , Nas , Destiny's Child , and his wife Efua Baker . He is a founding director of the Featured Artists Coalition . In 2002, he
1953-431: The Angell Town Estate were originally designed to accommodate high-level walkways which were envisaged to link the whole of Brixton. The ground-floor garages of these estates have proved to be a major security problem. The Somerleyton Estate is dominated by Southwyck House (known locally as "Barrier Block"), a large horseshoe-shaped brick and concrete 1970s structure that backs onto Coldharbour Lane. The 176-apartment block
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2016-590: The Clapham South deep shelter. The nearest Labour Exchange ( Jobcentre ) was on Coldharbour Lane, Brixton, and the new arrivals spread out into local accommodation. Many immigrants only intended to stay in Britain for a few years, but although a number returned to the Caribbean, the majority remained to settle permanently. The arrival of the passengers has become an important landmark in the history of modern Britain, and
2079-516: The Fridge. Yvette the Conqueror was the first artist signed to the label. The label's first release was a single by Yvette the Conqueror, titled "The Boys Were There", produced by Iain 'Rudi' Williams (from the bands You You You and Big Bang ). Czezowski and Carrington also promoted many bands at the Fridge, one of which was the cult club-band You You You featuring club promoter Laurence Malice, Karen O'Connor and Iain 'Rudi' Williams. The band performed
2142-591: The ancient parish of Lambeth up to the hills of Upper Norwood and Streatham . At the time the River Effra flowed from its source in Upper Norwood through Herne Hill to Brixton. At Brixton the river was crossed by low bridges for Roman roads to the south coast, now Brixton Road and Clapham Road. The main roads were connected through a network of medieval country lanes, such as Acre Lane, Coldharbour Lane , Brixton Water Lane and Lyham Road, formerly Black Lane. It
2205-484: The area which has benefited trade and its popularity. In April 2015, a Reclaim Brixton protest was held by local residents and activists opposing gentrification. In March 2016, a campaign to save the businesses that occupy the railway arches commenced, with long-running local businesses being forced out due to rent-rises. The council passed the plans for Network Rail to refurbish them in August. In May 2019, plans for
2268-472: The boundary with Camberwell; Cowley on Cowley and Vassall Roads, Loughborough in the centre of Brixton, Tulse Hill estate, Somerleyton estate and Moorlands Estate, situated off Coldharbour Lane. There are also smaller estates such as Blenheim Gardens, Caldwell Gardens, Church Manor and Hertford. These estates account for a large part of the Brixton residence. Estates like the Stockwell Park Estate and
2331-581: The council. The murals portray nature, politics, community and ideas. The surviving murals include the Brixton Academy Mural (Stockwell Park Walk) by Stephen Pusey (1982) showing a mixed group of young people, intended to portray the natural harmony that could be found between children of mixed backgrounds in the local schools. Recent contributions towards Brixton's mural tradition include the portrait of Michael Johns on Popes Road by Dreph , created as part of Brixton Design Trail in September 2017 and
2394-501: The currency. The Brixton pound aims to boost the local economy and build a mutual support system amongst independent businesses by tying local shoppers to local shops and by encouraging local shops to source goods and services locally. The notes are available in B£1, B£5, B£10, and B£20 denominations and depict local celebrities such as the community activist Olive Morris and the environmentalist James Lovelock . Lambeth Council has endorsed
2457-507: The debut album by Lab 4 consisted of a live set recorded at Escape from Samsara at the Fridge, too. Return to the Source released a number of compilation albums and a few singles on their label of the same name. Otherworld released a trance compilation entitled Dance, Trance & Magic Plants on the Transient label in 1997. The Fridge finally closed on 17 March 2010. The Love Muscle xx website
2520-428: The development on 3 November 2020. A subsequent decision is to be made by London mayor Sadiq Khan , the date so far for which has been postponed. 2023 saw the council begin the public consultation for the regeneration of 6 Canterbury Crescent (International House) and 49 Brixton Station Road (Pop Brixton). Brixton was one of the first inner-city based ' Transition town ' projects in the UK. Brockwell Park hosts
2583-547: The former common land was consecrated in 1824. The parish of St Matthew Brixton, one of five subdivisions of the ancient Lambeth parish, stretched from Camberwell Green in the northeast, to Clapham Road in the northwest, to the outer edge of Brockwell Park in the southeast and to Kingswood Road in the southwest. Ashby's Mill , one of the few surviving windmills in London, was built in 1816, just off Brixton Hill and surrounded by houses built during Brixton's Victorian expansion. The Surrey House of Correction , later Brixton prison,
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2646-552: The image of West Indians filing off its gangplank has come to symbolise the beginning of modern British multicultural society. In 1998 the area in front of Brixton Library was renamed " Windrush Square " to mark the 50th anniversary of the arrival of the Windrush . Brixton was the scene of riots in April 1981 at a time when Brixton underwent deep social and economic problems—high unemployment, high crime, poor housing, no amenities —in
2709-489: The major gay club nights in London, running every Saturday night for almost a decade. The night was temporarily closed in 1998, but was soon brought back due to public demand. It never fully recovered however, and became increasingly infrequent during the period 2000–2002, then finally closed permanently in 2004. Love Muscle returned to the Fridge on 31 December 2008 with the original promoter Andrew Czezowski with pyrotechnics and production effects. Other club nights included
2772-431: The now annual Urban Green Fair, first held in summer 2007. The Brixton pound was first trialled at Transition Town Brixton's "Local Economy Day" on 19 June 2008. It was then launched on 17 September 2009 by Transition Town Brixton. The Brixton pound is a local currency that is available as an alternative to sterling . The first trading day of the Brixton pound was on 18 September 2009 with 80 local businesses accepting
2835-616: The project, which the New Economics Foundation helped to develop. On 29 September 2011, the Brixton pound launched an electronic version of the currency where users can pay by text message. A second issue of the paper currency was launched, featuring a new set of well-known people with Brixton connections: On the B£1, the Black Cultural Archives founder Len Garrison , on the B£5, NBA basketball player Luol Deng (the reverse
2898-533: The riot. Following the 1981 Brixton riot the Government commissioned a public inquiry into the riot headed by Lord Scarman . The subsequent Scarman report was published in November 1981 and found unquestionable evidence of the disproportionate and indiscriminate use of 'stop and search' powers by the police against black people. The report made a number of recommendations and led to a new code for police behaviour in
2961-488: The start of the 20th century as the middle classes were replaced by an influx of the working classes. By 1925, Brixton attracted thousands of new people. It housed the largest shopping centre in south London at the time, as well as a thriving market, cinemas, pubs and a theatre. In the 1920s, Brixton was the shopping capital of south London with three large department stores and some of the earliest branches of what are now Britain's major national retailers. Today, Brixton Road
3024-399: The stone of Brixi, a Saxon lord. Brixi is thought to have erected a boundary stone to mark the meeting place of the ancient Brixton hundred court of Surrey . The location is unknown but is thought to be at the top of Brixton Hill , at a road known at the time as Bristow or Brixton Causeway, long before any settlement in the area. Brixton marks the rise from the marshes in the north of
3087-461: The template for the rave scene, it's a look that's being copied across the world. There's been no recognition of course -- if a record is influential it's on vinyl for all to hear throughout history, but you can't really encapsulate a visual in the same way, people just take it for granted. Basically the look of modern-day clubs was started here in 1986." In July 1985, Czezowski and Carrington launched their own Record Company, Latex Records. located at
3150-656: The temporary installation of "Remain, Thriving" by Njideka Akunyili Crosby at Brixton tube station , a commission by Art on the Underground . In 2018 Dreph completed a large mural depicting Michelle Obama in Dorrell Place. The Ritzy Cinema , Coldharbour Lane, is a formerly independent cinema now owned by Picturehouse Cinemas . The building was designed as the Electric Pavilion in 1910 by E. C. Homer and Lucas, one of England's first purpose-built cinemas. Brixton has
3213-401: The thriving bohemian art scene. However, others argue that the area is undergoing exciting regeneration. In recent years, Brixton has hosted a regular farmers' market on Station Road, as well as Pop-up restaurants and pop-up shops. New art galleries, delicatessens, bars, cafes and vintage clothing stores, particularly in and around Brixton Village Market have also opened, which some believe
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#17328767625903276-493: The venue. An embodiment of The Fridge's most revered night Soul II Soul named "At the Africa Centre" for its original venue was released as a compilation album in 2003, mixed by Jazzie B Escape from Samsara released a total of three unmixed compilation albums between 1996 and 1999. The group Zen Terrorists and solo artist SBL (Silicon Based Life) also both later released Live at Escape from Samsara albums. The second CD of
3339-558: Was 10,175 in 1841, about 10% of the parish of Lambeth. In twenty years the population of both had doubled. When the London sewerage system was constructed during the mid-19th century, its designer Sir Joseph Bazalgette incorporated flows from the River Effra into his 'high-level interceptor sewer', also known as the Effra sewer. Brixton was connected to central London by rail on 25 August 1862 when Brixton and South Stockwell railway station
3402-400: Was convicted of murder and given six concurrent life sentences . There has been, and there remains great debate regarding whether Brixton's recent renaissance should be deemed regeneration or gentrification . Some believe the area has slowly undergone a process of gentrification since the 1990s and has resulted in many wealthy middle-class people taking advantage of the area's location and
3465-500: Was established in 1819. As part of the Reform Act 1832 the expanding area of London was given representation with the creation of new parliamentary boroughs covering the metropolitan area. Only the part of Brixton north of St Matthew's Church became part of the Lambeth parliamentary borough , reflecting the still semi-rural nature of the southern part of the area. The population of Brixton
3528-732: Was inspired by the Ark Evelyn Grace Academy ), David Bowie on the B£10 and World War II secret agent Violette Szabo on the B£20. The reverse of the notes, designed by a Brixton creative agency This Ain't Rock'n'Roll, feature notable local landmarks such as the Stockwell Skatepark , public art on Electric Avenue , Nuclear Dawn (one of the Brixton murals ), and the Stirling Prize -winning Ark Evelyn Grace Academy . All four notes feature
3591-419: Was intense local indignation at this, since the vast majority of those stopped by the police were young black men. The riot resulted in almost 279 injuries to police and 45 injuries to members of the public, more than a hundred vehicles were burned (including 56 police vehicles), and almost 150 buildings were damaged, with 30 burned. There were 82 arrests. Reports suggested that up to 5,000 people were involved in
3654-624: Was listed first in the Business category of the " 100 Great Black Britons " list. He was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) by Elizabeth II in the 2008 New Year Honours . In May 2008, he was awarded the first Inspiration award at the Ivor Novello Awards , for being "a pioneer" and "the man who gave black British music a soul of its own". On 7 February 2024, at
3717-492: Was online until 2014 and played loops of the club's memorable tracks, starting with Bob Sinclar's Save Our Souls . The venue reopened in 2011 as Electric Brixton. The venue is now owned by Electric Group . 51°27′37″N 0°07′01″W / 51.4602°N 0.1169°W / 51.4602; -0.1169 Brixton Brixton is an area of South London , part of the London Borough of Lambeth , England. The area
3780-476: Was only at the end of the 18th century that villages and settlements formed around Brixton, as the original woodland was gradually reduced until the area was covered in farmland and market gardens known for game and strawberries. The area remained undeveloped until the beginning of the 19th century, the main settlements being near Stockwell , Brixton Hill and Coldharbour Lane. With the opening of Vauxhall Bridge in 1816, improved access to Central London led to
3843-423: Was opened by the London, Chatham and Dover Railway on the line from Victoria. On 13 August 1866 the London, Brighton & South Coast Railway opened Loughborough Park railway station with connections to London Bridge and the following year to Victoria. With the arrival of the railways a building boom set in. Brixton was transformed into a middle class suburb between the 1860s and 1890s and Brixton developed into
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#17328767625903906-461: Was originally constructed in this shape to provide a noise barrier against Ringway 1 , a proposed inner-London motorway that was planned to pass through Brixton and Camberwell, later abandoned. Some housing estates have been linked with urban decay and crime. New gates and iron bars have been constructed for the Loughborough Estate around Loughborough Road and Minet Road in response to
3969-480: Was recorded there just before the group started to find wider success. The nights at the Africa Centre would be celebrated in the 2003 compilation "Soul II Soul At The Africa Centre". In March 1991, he launched the label Funki Dreds and signed the singers Lady Levi and Kofi to the label. At this time, he would also host a show on then pirate radio station Kiss FM , which would continue through its legal licence and until 1997. From 2009 to 2012, Jazzie B hosted
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